Heavy D Dead At Age 44

Jamaican American rap pioneer Heavy D died today in Los Angeles of an unknown illness.

According to reports by TMZ, Heavy D, whose real name Dwight Arrington Myers, was rushed to an L.A. hospital around noon today and was pronounced dead at the hospital at 1 PM. He was 44 years old.

A 911 call was reportedly placed from Heavy’s Beverly Hills home around 11:25 AM to report an unconscious male on the walkway. He was rushed to a nearby hospital before he was pronounce dead. The police said there are no suspicions of foul play.

Heavy D was born in Jamaica, and moved to Mt. Vernon, NY, when he was a child. Heavy D & The Boyz, the group which he fronted, was the first act signed to Uptown Records.

Heavy D’s death comes almost a month after a comeback performance at the 2011 BET Hip-Hop Awards, when he performed a medley of his best-known singles, among them “Nuttin’ But Love,” “Is It Good to You” and “Now That We Found Love.”